Corgi launches Colin McRae tribute range

The new Corgi Colin McRae Tribute Collection celebrates the late world rally champion.

0

SHARES

Corgi has secured an exclusive agreement with Colin McRae Motorsport to launch a tribute to the 1995 World Rally Champion. The collection of 1:43 scale die-cast replica models will serve as a lasting memorial to one of the most successful rally drivers ever to grace the World Rally Championship Stage.

The Colin McRae Tribute Collection will feature fourteen of the most important competition cars of Colin’s career.

Eleven of the bespoke cars created for the range will require new tooling with an investment of nearly £250,000, highlighting the firm’s long lasting commitment to the range and also demonstrates its desire to branch out into producing more modern die-cast models.

Highlights from the range due to roll out across 2009 include:

The 707 LHT Mini Cooper (pictured) celebrating McRae’s first ever championship win aged 16 in the West of Scotland Autotest Championship. The model also marks the 50th Anniversary of the Mini.

The Talbot Sunbeam TI is a reproduction of Colin’s first rally car from the 1986 Scottish Rally championships (Coming out November 2009).

In 2010 and 2011 the range will continue its progression through McRae’s career, creating models including the Subaru Legacy 2000cc Turbo in which Colin won every round on the way to his second consecutive British Rally Championship victory in 1992.

Also planned is a replica of the Subaru Impreza which took him to glory in the 1995 World Rally Championship and the Colin McRae R4, designed and tested by McRae himself, utilising his wealth of experience in all motorsport disciplines to produce the ultimate competition car.

Frank Martin, chief executive of Hornby commented: “We are truly honoured to be working with Colin McRae Motorsport on this range that we feel is a fitting tribute to Colin. We feel that over the three year roll out Corgi and Colin McRae fans alike will see the range flourish and progress.”

Corgi is particularly proud to be working with Colin McRae Motorsport to highlight the Colin McRae Vision. This charitable initiative was set up as a result of the support following the tragic accident.

On behalf of the McRae family, Jimmy McRae added: “We are delighted to be able to work with an iconic name such as Corgi, to produce what will be a fitting tribute collection in Colin’s memory. We hope that the sales revenues will be such that they are able to make a significant contribution towards the Colin McRae Vision and its ongoing charitable initiatives.”

The Vision will be raising money for a range of children’s charities but also plans to be pro-active in introducing training and rehabilitation initiatives to help reduce the currently unacceptable toll of fatal accidents involving young drivers in the 17-25 year old age bracket.

Information on the Colin McRae Vision will feature on all Corgi Colin McRae Tribute Collection packaging.